Papi Chulo's BLOG

Tony Parker Lands Global "NBA Live 09" Cover

The San Antonio Spurs' Tony Parker has been chosen to grace the cover of Electronic Arts' NBA Live 09 ...

The NBA superstar will be featured for the first time on the cover of the North American version ... The 26-year-old has appeared five times as the face of the French version ...

Tony Parker: "I have a long history with EA Sports. I've been on the cover in France for five years straight, and I've been playing NBA Live for as long as I've played basketball. It's a real honor for me as a European player to now be represented on the worldwide cover."

The game streets on October 7 in the US ... and October 14 everywhere else ...

~Papi Chulo~

Talk of the Town :: Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning Team Up!

Miami Heat stars Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning are joining forces ... The duo announced Thursday that Wade will participate in Zo's Summer Groove ... Mourning's annual event that helps at-risk families ...

The Miami Herald chatted with them and asked them what they enjoy doing off the court ...

Where do you eat?

Zo: That's a better question for my friend here. He's the man about town.

Wade: I just had my cover party at Mokai but I go out to dinner at Prime 112. It's not just about dining, it's the ambiance. Good for the young and old [pointing at Mourning behind his back].

Zo: Wait, what's he doing? I'm not old! [He's 38, Dwyane's 26.]

Wade: Nah, seriously. I love the food. I get the roasted chicken with potatoes. A big plate of vegetables come, but I just push that aside.

Where do you go to chill?

Zo: I play a lot of golf at The Biltmore. I'm a member there and the course is beautiful. Turnberry Isle is also great.

Wade: I like to spend time with my family -- my two boys [Zaire, 6, and Zion, who turns 1 next month], just hanging out at home. It's important to know how to relax, wind down and rest the body. You can't let Miami life get to you.

How do you guys like Miami?

Zo: I want to help. I want to inspire people. That's what keeps the world moving.

Wade: Chicago is my home, but Miami is where I plan to be. It's where it's at.

~Papi Chulo~

Talk of the Town :: Dwyane Wade Lands "Ocean Drive" Cover

Ocean Drive has made Dwayne Wade its third cover man in the magazine's 16-year history ...

Following Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 ... and Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2006 ... Wade graces the Ocean Drive's April 2008 issue ...

The magazine celebrates its April issue release at 10pm on Wednesday at Mokai in Miami Beach ...

In the issue ... Wade talks about his future plans ... his thoughts about rebuilding the Miami Heat ... his philanthropy and his D Wade's Sports Grill chain of restaurants ...

~Papi Chulo~

Timberlake Tapped to Host ESPYs

Justin Timberlake will be presiding over the 2008 ESPY Awards ... The "sexy back" singer has been brought on to host the July 20 awards show ...

The awards are presented by ESPN ... and decided by the fans ...

The annual awards show celebrates the best and brightest sporting moments of the year ... Fans vote online at espys.tv ...

Justin Timberlake: "I'm very excited to be hosting the 16th edition of the ESPYs. I can't wait for the day of the show as I'm truly a sports junkie. Since the last ESPYs, there have been amazing moments in sports, and I'm looking forward to recapping all of them with ESPN's diehard fans."

~Papi Chulo~

LeBron James Commands "Vogue" Cover

Rod 2.0: Beta has brought to our attention that LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen grace the cover of the April 2008 issue of Vogue magazine ...

A true landmark because James is the first Black man to be featured on the cover of Vogue in the magazine's 115-year history ...

It's nice that Vogue has kept up with the times and finally realized that Black men are people too ... But the sad thing is that the cover is being compared to King Kong and actress Fay Wray ...

James would be "King Kong" ... flexing his muscles and baring his teeth in his basketball attire ... while Bundchen appears in his arms wearing a Statue of Liberty green-colored dress ... his "trophy" ...

It's quite a shame ... the cover was shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz ... but it truly didn't showcase James as it should have ... He is well-known to be one of the best dressed male athletes ... but the image just strings up the stereotype of the "Big Black Man" and his white possession ...

~Papi Chulo~

Talk of the Town :: Shaq Traded to Suns

The Miami Heat traded 13-time All-Star Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns for forward Shawn Marion and guard Marcus Banks ...

The trade was completed on Wednesday after O'Neal passed a physical in Phoenix ...

Steve Kerr (Team General Manager): "He was not happy in Miami playing for a team that's rebuilding. It was not a good situation. We feel like with our core group we have here surrounding him, he doesn't have to be the star."

Shaq didn't talk to reporters ... But earlier tonight he received a massive standing ovation when he was introduced on the big screen while watching the New Orleans-Phoenix game from a suite at the US Airways Center ... He initially stood to acknowledge the cheers with both arms open ... He sat down ... but got up once more because the cheers continued ... He pointed to the NBA championship ring he was wearing and gave the crowd a thumbs up ... The crowd roared ...

Bye Shaq! We will miss you!

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Kentuckians Enraged and Outraged Over Photo of Two Players Locked in a Hug

What is the world coming to?

An innocent photo of two University of Louisville basketball players embracing after an emotional play has caused such a hateful backlash ...

Rod 2.0:Beta reports that hundreds of angry readers contacted the Louisville Courier-Journal after the newspaper published the image ... The photograph shows Cardinals players Jerry Smith hugging Juan Palacios in the first half of the game after a big, emotional play that favored the Cardinals ...

A reader of the Courier-Journal accused the newspaper of "pushing the homosexual agenda" ...

The public outcry in Kentucky over the photo caused Courier-Journal public editor Pam Platt to publish an "explanation" of sorts ...

Pam Platt: "Some of the comments registered by angry, offended and/or baffled readers: 'Awful,' 'an embarrassment,' 'horrible decision,' 'poor judgment,' 'distasteful,' 'a mystery' and 'shame on you.' I have to admit I was a little baffled by the response."

Then ... Platt goes on to say that readers have been demanding an apology or explanation ... And Platt stands firm that there wouldn't be an apology ... but there would be an explanation ...

Pam Platt: "I go back to my old theory about content being something like a Rorschach test, and people bringing their own ideas and baggage to what they see and read -- or what they don't see and don't read into words and images. Which makes me wonder: What are you thinking? What is it about two athletes sharing a moment of physical and emotional closeness in the middle of a big game, in the middle of a basketball court, that puts some people off so much?"

I couldn't agree more ... How did a simple hug turn into "promoting the homosexual agenda"?

I guess as Rod 2.0:Beta stated ... they saw what they wanted to see ...

~Papi Chulo~

Kobe Bryant Felt "Violated" Wearing Short-Shorts

Kobe Bryant doesn't like short-shorts ... or at least ... that's what Rod 2.0: Beta has reported ...

The LA Lakers decided to honor Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry West by wearing old skool basketball shorts during one of their recent games ... The shorts were worn during the first half of the game ...

The LA Times said the shorts "added to a vibrant, if not entertaining, pregame atmosphere at Staples Center, with fans offering a standing ovation when the Lakers took the court" ...

It seems the LA Lakers temperamental star did not enjoy the short-shorts ... and as Rod 2.0: Beta puts it ... wore "extra layers of compression shorts to underscore his embarrassment, and, constantly tugged at the shorty-shorts" ...

Kobe Bryant: "I don't know what it feels like to wear a thong, but I imagine it feels something like what we had on in the first half. I felt violated. I felt naked. It’s one thing to see films with guys wearing those things. ... I'd rather stay warm, man."

~Papi Chulo~

Dwyane Wade Lands Swiss Watch Deal

Armaan Swiss Diamond Watches has picked Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade as its new spokesman ...

David King (Armaan North America President): "Dwyane is the perfect ambassador for this brand because, similar to Armaan watches, he represents individuality, sophistication and implausible strength."

Dwyane Wade will be at the official event to launch his new campaign at King Jewelers Friday ... in Miami, FL ...

~Papi Chulo~

Dwyane Wade's 1st Practice

Miami Heat super star Dwyane Wade had his first full-contact practice of the season on Monday ...

Dwyane Wade had sat out the first few games of the season due to his recently surgically repaired left knee ...

After six months ... Dwyane returned to the court in fighting form ...

Dwyane Wade: "It was just good to be back out there playing, to be back out there practicing. Every player loves the games, and not too many love practice. But today I loved practice -- for the first time."

The good news for the Heat (0-3) was that Dwyane reported no problems related to his knee or left shoulder after practice ... both were operated on May 15, 2007 ... The bad news is that he still doesn't know when he'll be ready to return to the starting lineup ...

~Papi Chulo~

Miami Heat :: 2007-08 Season Opener

The Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons open the 2007-08 NBA season tonight at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida ...

And this is the last opening night for the Miami Heat's Alonzo Mourning ... he announced over the summer that this would be his final playing season ...

~Papi Chulo~

Dwyane Wade is #1 in Europe!

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade has beat out Allen Iverson ... Tony Parker ... and a bunch of other European players to top the list of most popular NBA jerseys in Europe ...

Wade's No. 3 Miami Heat jersey was the biggest selling jersey during the 2006-2007 season ... In the US he previously topped the sales chart after the 2005-06 regular season ...

Here is the top 10 list ...

1. Dwyane Wade
2. Allen Iverson
3. Tony Parker
4. Kobe Bryant
5. LeBron James
6. Boris Diaw
7. Pau Gasol
8. Andrea Bargnani
9. Carmelo Anthony
10. Tracy McGrady

~Papi Chulo~

In the News :: Shaq Files for Divorce

It was reported today in the Miami Herald that Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal has filed for divorce of his wife of five years ... Shaunie O'Neal ... Miami Heat coach Pat Riley was quoted as saying he was "devastated" to hear of the news ...

The family lives on Miami Beach's ritzy Star Island ... and the home is now up for sale ... The home is estimated to retail at $32 million ...

The couple have four children ... and each have a child from a previous relationship ... Shaq is giving Shaunie primary residential custody ... but he wants "liberal visitation rights" ...

The couple did have a prenup ... In the divorce papers Shaq accuses Shaunie of hiding assets ... so he requests a full detailed examination of how Shaunie has handled their money ...

~Papi Chulo~